Can filling machine



y 1939- c. H. AYARS 2,158,769

CAN FILLING MACHINE Ti-EJ- i l /6' i 24+ t 2 B 2%; I m M WNW 2.

N 1 V as INVENTOR CHARLES HAYARS.

May 16, 939- a c. H. AYARS 2,158,769

CAN FILLING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 10, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR GHARLES H AYARS.

May 16, 1939. c. H. AYARS CAN FILLING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 10, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 'CHARLES HJQYARS- RNEY UN D *S T. ES

PATENT OFICE CAN FILLING MACHINE Charles H. Ayars, Salem,

N. ..-I., assignor ,to Ayars Machine Company, Salem, .N. J.,laicorporation of New Jersey Original application N ovember 10, 1936, Serial 110,053. Divided and this application Nomember-23, 1936, Serial N0..112,278

23 Claims.

This invention relates to can filling machinery, and .:has special reference to machinery which deposits into cans both solid and liquid material. It vjhas to-d :with machinery of the foregoing type in whioh'both the solid and liquid materials are measured :before deposit into the ,cans, and the measuring-means remployedgfor both "the. solid and liquid materials 3&18 adjustable to suit every :re- :quirement.

application is .a .divisioncof an application :fi-led ,by me ion the th .day of November, .1936, ,Serial NO. 110 053.

The object of the present invention is to prozwideinmachines ofthe foregoing type,:means ior indicating :the icapacities of .the measuring v devices.

Another object of the invention is to :provide capacity indicating means which are automatireally :operated :by 113116 means which controls the capacities of ;:the measuring devices.

S ill another object of the invention is :to providemeans whereby thercapacities of the meas :nring devices may be readily changed :to suit retarding 20f materials iof each manner or packer.

According :to the invention, vthe can filling mach1'ne whiehihas *rneans ior ieedi-ng cansinto 0perativeposition for ;fi1:ling,anda .pair of measur ing :devices, reach comprising .211 vupper and lower turret member arprovidingtelescopic cups, one of the devices sharing means for supplying discrete solid material to its cups, .and the other having means :for supplying liquid to its cups, a distributing-member having funnels each. adapted to successively receive :the contents of a solid :matcrialzcupandaliquid material cup and'to direct the same giintova scan to be filled, each .of said measuringidevices having ashaft attached-to the upper turret and provided with means for raising and lowering said shaft, and means operated by said last means 'for indicating the capacities of the cups.

The :drawings illustrate an lembodimentiof the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Figure lis a verticalsectional viewnf a part .of the machine,rthe can feedingmechanism and legs of "the machine being broken away,

Figure .'2 is a fragmentary :side view of thermachine1andsh0wsthemechanism for adjusting the discrete solid material measuring pockets, and the :means for indicating the capacities thereof,

figure 3 is an end wiew of .the-same,

Fignre lrl :is a fragmentary view of mechanism employed :for adjusting the vcapacities of the diquidameasuring cupszandthe cooperativesmeans for l -indicating the capacities thereof,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view .of the :same,

Fi urefiisaside viewer .aabutton empl yed for fixin a desired capacity-0n the indicating idial,

Fi ure .7 is a -;fragmentar-y sectional view taken 5 on the line 1-4 of .Eigure 1, and

Figures i8-and19 are small detail vertical sec- :tional views showing split turret shafts.

tin reach of the figures of the drawings, like characteristics indicate like rparts. :10

*In the application above referred to, there :is shown a rmadhi-ne -:w11;ich, :in many respects, ;C..0,rresponds with the machine of the present invention, except that in the parent application, the :machine moulded with :a pile-Mining devi e, and with =,governing :means for :preventing the supply of liquid material to the machine, except when the machine ,is in operation. Therpresent invention is ;.directed .to :can :feeding machinery generally.

The cansid are moved on the 11782111859 by a star wheel la-1| whichhas a-a "gear 12 operated b athe gear 13 on the can feed shaft M. The leans, when fill are removed train the "table 9, land lcontact with the star wheel ll Lbymeans of a starwheel 1| 6, and rails which are plearly shown in Figure 2 of the application hereinbeiore .reierred to. 'EIEhe machine is driven througha bevel gear PI mesh- ,ing with a bevelz gea-r J18 mounted .on a hollow shaft I 9,. The ifunnel casting 21 has :iunnels @22; :ior liquid material and .;.funnels 23 "for discrete solid material, :and :this funnel castin has "a Ede- ,pendingzsleeve 4221 which is seeuredrto-the .hollow shaft by ;a :set screw 26. Immediately .below the funnel casting is an external rl'nggear 12 1 which has collared apertures ;28, which apertures are aligned with :the bottoms of the funnels 12-3, :and this ring ear :25! has ,a :set screw 12,9 connecting :the same with :the depending sleeve 214 of the tunnel pasting, so that said :parts will rotate :to geth r upon the turning of:the..ho11ow. shart 1.9. The :ztunnel roasting rotatesronaibed :plate 3:! and jits upper surfaceis provided with axplateior-lplat- :form 13.2 :vidrliclarhas an opening 33 for permitting material to he idropped rtherethrough from the measuring devices mounted on .said plate 132.

I' e discrete solid material measuring .device eonsistsiof :a lower turret Mend :anzunper :L-turret The :lower turret member hascircular upstanding :flanges :31, while "the upper turret .135 has depending circularscol-lars :38 which fit within the upstanding 'tcircularicollars of the aflanges of the ;lower turretrmember 3:4. The lower turret member 35 is fixed :to :the :ho'llowishaft the. 'The llppereturret member :36 has :a l'hub 3,9 with arecess 4| into which the end of a solid shaft 42 extends, and is keyed therein. This shaft 42 extends down through the hollow shaft and emerges from the lower end thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The hub 39 has an extension 43 to which is secured by a key 44 a pinion 46. This pinion meshes with an idler pinion 4'! which, in turn, meshes with an internal ring gear 48 on the inside of the hopper casting 49. This hopper,

casting 49 is stationary whereas the ring gear .8 is secured to the funnel or hopper 5i. When the hollow shaft I9 is rotated by means of the bevel gears I1 and IS, the lower turret member 34 is turned thereby, and since its upstanding flanges receive the depending flanges 39 of the upper tur ret member 36 to form the cups B, the upper turret casting will be rotated therewith, so that the pinion 46 will be rotated, which will impart a rotary motion to the funnel 5| which contains the discrete solid material for supplying th cups B.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the bottom of the solid shaft 42, which extends through the hollow shaft I'II rests within a socket 52 in the stirrup 50 of a capacity regulating member 53. This member has a vertical hole 54, so that it fits onto a shaft 56 which is secured to a cross plate 51 at 58. The regulating member is also provided with an extension 59 and a lug 6|. This ing is screw threaded and engages a screw 62 which has a bearing 63 while collars 64 and 66 prevent vertical movement of said screw. The upper end of the screw is provided with a bevel gear 61 which meshes with a bevel gear 68 on the inner end of a shaft 69, which said shaft is mounted in an upstanding bearing II, and provided at its outer end with a hand wheel I2. The extension 59 has a link or connecting rod I3 connected therewith, and the upper end of said link is connected with a rack I4, which is slidably mounted at the rear of an indicating dial 16. This rack is slidable through means of a vertical slot 11 and screws 18 fitting into the dial. The dial has a screw post I9 fitting through the center of the same, and on the rear thereof is fixed a pinion 8| meshing with the rack I4, while the front end thereof is provided with a finger or pointer 82, so that upon the movement of the capacity regulating member 53 through the manual operation of the hand wheel I2, the toothed rack 14 will rotate the pinion 8|, and, therefore, will rotate the finger or hand 62 at the front of the dial. This dial is mounted by means of bolts 83 on the plate or platform 32.

It is customary, among canners or packers, to grade material which they can, for instance peas, and peas are usually graded according to size, and each packer may have a different standard of grading, that is to say, peas up to a certain diameter may be called Grade 1, peas of the next larger diameter Grade 2, those a little larger Grade 3, etc. In order that the machine may be accurately set for placing in each can the desired amount of discrete solids, such as peas for each and every grade, it will be necessary to set the machine according to different indications for different canners. The dial 16, therefore, is provided with a circle of small holes 84 and buttons 85 (see Figure 6) having spring ends 81 are provided for slipping into the dial, so that when a canner has found the exact quantity of peas or other discrete solids desired for each grade, he may place these buttons in the holes aligning with the finger or hand 82, when the proper setting is obtained. The buttons,

of course, may be marked 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. so that thereafter the operator of the canning machine need only turn the hand wheel I2 until the finger 6.2 points to the grade of material which he is about to place in the cans, and he is thereby assured that the lower and upper funnel castings 34 and 36 have their telescopic cups B of proper capacity for placing into the cans the required volume of material.

Referring now to Figure l, the hollow shaft i9 is provided with a bevel gear 88, which meshes with a bevel gear 89 on the bottom of a hollow shaft 9|. This hollow shaft extends obliquely, and through a bearing 92 on the table 9, and through a bearing on an oblique extension 93 of the bed plate 3I. The shaft also passes up through a bearing 94 on the turret plate 96 of the liquid tank 91. Mounted on the turret plate 96 is a lower turret member 98 which has an upstanding flange 99 surrounding an upstanding flange IOI of the turret plate 96. The hollow shaft extends above these upstanding flanges, and is secured at its upper end by means of a key I02 to a driving disk I03. This driving disk has depending arms I04 which engage lugs I06 of the lower turret member 98, while the upper turret member I01 has depending pins I08, which are adapted to pass through holes I09 in the driving disk I03, so that upon the rotation of the hollow shaft 9|, the lower turret member and upper turret member will rotate in unison, while the upper turret member is provided with plugs III which are adapted to fit within the liquid cups C on the lower turret member 90, and regulate the capacity of said cups by means of their position therein. The upper turret I01 is secured to the upper end of a shaft II2 by means of a set screw H3, and said shaft extends down through the hollow shaft SI, and emerges from the bottom thereof. The funnel casting 2I is substantially the same as funnel casting 46 shown in Figures 3, 5, and 13 to 16 of applicants Patent No. 1,533,536, granted April 14, 1925, and its utility in combination with the telescopic cups B and C of the turret members is explained in detail in that patent, particularly as to the timing of the deposits of discrete solid materials from the cups B and liquid from the cups C into the pockets of the casting. The principle there described and explained in detail is exactly the same as the principle of mechanism of this machine insofar as these parts are concerned, and it will suffice to say that discrete solid material is deposited into the funnels 23 from the cups B prior to the deposit of liquid material into the funnels 22 from the cups C. The present invention makes no change whatever in this principle of operation.

The bottom end of the shaft II2 fits within a socket H4 in the stirrup II6 of a capacity regulating member Hi. This capacity regulating member is substantially the same as the capacity regulating member 53, and has a hole I I8 through which a shaft II9 extends. It is also provided with a screw I2I held against vertical movement and provided at its upper end with a vertical gear I22 which meshes with a bevel gear I23 on the inner end of a shaft I24. This shaft is mounted in the upstanding member I26, and is provided at its outer end with a hand wheel I2I. The capacity regulating member has an overhanging arm I28 to which a link I29 is pivotally connected at I3I, while the upper end of said link is pivotally connected at I32 to a toothed rack I33.

This rack meshes with a pinion I34 auspice mountedona shouldered screw I36 at the center of a dial Id-1, and the front end of said shouldered screw is provided with a finger or :pointer "I 38. Thetoothed-rack I 33 has a slot I39, while screws 'I'4-I fastened into the back of said dial "permit the upward and downward movement of said rack while still maintaining the same in mesh with the pinion I34. This dial I3 1 is also provided with a circle of small holes I42 for receiving the buttons 86 shown in Figure 6, and for the same purpose explained in connection with Figures 2 and -3. It will, of .course, be obvious that upon the changing of grades of, for instance, peas, beans orthe like, the amount of liquid'whioh will surround and cover the same will *vary with the changing of grades and the capacities of the liquid cups '0' must, therefore, be changed upon changing grade, in the same *manner as the cups B are changed for changing the capacity for diiferent grades of discrete solid material. It will readily be seen that upon the turning of the hand wheel I21,

"the capacity regulating member II I willbe moved,

andthe weight of the upper turret member It" will hold the shaft 112 down in the hollow shaft 91, so that if it is desired to lower the plugs =-I I I in the cups 0, so as to decrease the volume thereof, the hand wheel I'2-l being turned to lower the capacity regulating member :II'I, the shaft 112 .will follow the movement .of said capacity regulating member. Of course, to increase 'the capacity, the upper turret member I01 will be raisedpand as the shaft :9I is raised, the plugs I I I are pushed upward so that a smaller portion thereof will be within-the cups C.

In each instance, it will be seen that the finger or pointer I38 on the dial I31 will :be moved by-virtue of the pivotally mounted link I29 carrying the toothed rack 33 which meshes with the 'pin I34. So that it will readily be .seen that oncethe-amount'of'liquid required in a can when the number 1 grade peas are being .deposited, when once set can have one of the buttons 86 inserted in :thesmall hole 142 directly opposite the position-of the finger or pointer I38:so that "thereafter when the grade 1 .pea is about to be :placed in cans, both the discrete .solid material dial and the liquid dial may be :made to .indicate ithat the number 1 grade'is about to bedeposited, and theoperator is thereby assured that the neoessary amount of solids and liquids will be deposited in each can. Likewisetthemachine may be set for other grades.

If desired, the shafts ii-and .I'I2 .mayqbe broken at and Z (see Figs. 8 and 9), so as to provide upper stub shafts which will rotate with respective turrets, while the lower .part of the interior shafts can remain stationary. In such a case when it is desired to wash the machine by removing the upper rturrets of both devices, only the small stub shafts will 'need be withdrawn "from "their respective hollow shafts.

The construction of the canning machine described herein .is such that the same can be readily kept in :a clean .and sanitary condition without the .necessity of unscrewing :orunlocking any parts, and the construction .is such that :even the most unskilled operator can remove the :upper turrets and their associated parts and when placing the same together again can .place them in no manner other than the correct way.

Of course, the can filling machine illustrated and described hereinmay be varied and changed in many ways without departing fromthe=inventi'on herein set forth and hereafter claimed.

:zpacityof said telescopic means.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. .A can fillinganachine having a measuring device comprising telescopic pockets, :said device having :a longitudinally slidable shaft for regulating thesapacities of said telescopic pockets, and a dial having a:fingerro.tated by the sliding of said shaft for indicating "the capacities of said telescopic cups.

'2. A can ifilling machine :having telescopic means for measuring :material to :be depositedp in :can's,:a longitudinallyslidableshaft :for regula'ting "the capacity of said telescopic means, .and :a ."dial having .a :gear operated .finger rotated by the sliding of said shaft for indicating the ca- 3. A can filling machine having telescopic means for measuring material .to be deposited into .cans, .a longitudinally slidable shaft for :reg-

*ulating the acapacity of said telescopic "means,

manually operable means mounted on the .machine frame and associated with said shaft .for adjusting same, a dial mounted onsaidmachine, a finger rotatably mounted on said dial, .and means connected with said manually operable means for rotating .said finger "to :indicate :t'he:

capacity of said telescopic means.

4. A can filling machine having telescopic .means for measuring material :to be deposited intolcans, an adjustable shaft for'regulating the capacity of said telescopic means, manually (JP-"530 erable means associated with-said shaft for .aid-

justing same, .a dial mounted on said "machine,

a finger rotatably mounted on said dial,.a pinion on said finger, .and a toothed :rack meshing with said pinionand'operablyconnected with said 35 -manual1y-operablc .means for rotating said finger 'to indicate on said dial the :capacity of said telescopic means.

5. A can filling machine having telescopic frame and associated with said shaft, manually member to slide said shaft, a dial mounted on said machine, a finger rotatably mounted onsaid :dial, and means connected with saidadjusting ":member for rotating said .finger to indicate the "capacity of saidtelescopic means.

means for measuring material to be deposited into cans, ailongitudinally slidable-shaft .for regulating thecapacity of said telescopic .means, an adjusting member mounted on the machine "operable screw means for operating said adjusting .450 =6. A can filling machine having telescopic means "for measuring material :to be deposited into cans, an adjustable shaftfor regulating the capacity of said telescopic means, an adjusting ing member to move said shaft, 'a dial mounted on said machine, a finger rotatably mounted on said -:dial, a pinion on said finger, and a toothed "member associated with said tsha-ft, xmanually operable screw means for operating :said adjustrack meshing with said pinion and operablyconthe measuring :devices whereby the capacities, 0

of said devices are indicated by the positions 10f :sa id finger.

8. in a can filling machine having :devices for measuringmaterial to bedeposited in "cans, means for adjusting said "measuring :devices if01-V31'1OHS;};75

capacities, a dial having openings for securing grade indicating buttons thereon, and a finger rotatable on said dial and operated through the means for adjusting the measuring devices whereby the capacities of said devices are indicated by the positions of said finger.

9. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having telescopic measuring cups, a hollow shaft connected to the lower turret for rotating the device, a shaft longitudinally slidable within said hollow shaft and having its upper end connected to said upper turret and its lower end extending from the bottom of said hollow shaft, means mounted on the machine frame and connecting the extending end of said internal shaft for moving same longitudinally to alter the capacity of said cups, and means rotated by the operation of said last named means for indicating the capacities of said cups.

10. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having telescopic measuring cups, a hollow shaft connected to the lower turret for rotating the device, a shaft longitudinally slidable within said hollow shaft and having its upper end connected to said upper turret and its lower end extending from the bottom of said hollow shaft, manually operable means on the machine frame and connecting the extending end of said internal shaft for moving same longitudinally to alter the capacity of said cups, and a finger rotated by the operation of said last named means for indicating the capacities of said cups.

11. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a shaft connected to the upper turret and slidable in said hollow shaft for adjusting the capacities of the telescopic cups, and mechanism for raising and lowering said internal shaft, said mechanism comprising a stirrup engaging the lower end of said shaft, and having vertically fixed rotatable screw means for raising and lowering said stir- 12. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a shaft connected to the upper turret and slidable in said hollow shaft for adjusting the capacities of the telescopic cups, and mechanism for raising and lowering said internal shaft, said mechanism comprising a stirrup engaging the lower end of said shaft, and having gear operated vertically fixed rotatable screw means for raising and lowering said stirrup.

13. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a shaft connected to the upper turret and slidable in said hollow shaft for adjusting the capacities of the telescopic cups, a dial for said shaft, and means operated by sliding said internal shaft for indicating the capacities of said was on said dial.

14. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a shaft connected to the upper turret and slidable in said hollow shaft for adjusting the capacities of the telescopic cups, manually operable means for raising and lowering said internal shaft, and means operated by the mechanism for sliding said shaft to indicate the capacities of said cups.

l5. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a shaft connected to the upper turret and slidable in said hollow shaft for adjusting the capacities of the telescopic cups, manually operable means for raising and lowering said internal shaft, and dial and finger means operated by the mechanism for sliding said shaft to indicate the capacities of said cups.

16. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a shaft connected to the upper turret and slidable in said hollow shaft for adjusting the capacities of the telescopic cups, mechanism for raising and lowering said internal shaft, said mechanism comprising a stirrup engaging the lower end of said shaft, and having vertically fixed rotatable screw means for raising and lowering said stirrup, a dial, a finger for indicating the measuring cup capacity on said dial, said finger being operated by the operation of said stirrup.

17. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a shaft connected to the upper turret and slidable in said hollow shaft for adjusting the capacities of the telescopic cups, mechanism for raising and lowering said iinternal shaft, said mechanism comprising a stirrup engaging the lower end of said shaft, and having vertically fixed rotatable screw means for raising and lowering said stirrup, a dial, a finger for indicating the measuring cup capacity on said dial, a pinion on said finger, and rack means operated by the stirrup for rotating said finger when the internal shaft is raised or lowered.

18. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a shaft connected to the upper turret and slidable in said hollow shaft for adjusting the capacities of the telescopic cups, mechanism for raising and lowering said internal shaft, said mechanism comprising a stirrup engaging the lower end of said shaft, and having vertically fixed rotatable screw means for raising and lowering said stirrup, and manual means for operating said screw means.

19. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges form,- ing cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a shaft connected to the upper turret and slidable in said hollow shaft for adjusting the capacities of the telescopic cups, mechanism: for

raising and lowering said internal shaft, said mechanism comprising a stirrup engaging the lower end of said shaft, and having gear operated vertically fixed rotatable screw means for raising and lowering said stirrup, and manual means for operating said gears.

20. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a stub shaft connected to the upper turret and extending into the upper end of said hollow shaft and slidable therein, and a shaft below said stub shaft and engaging the same slidable in said hollow shaft and extending from. the lower end of said hollow shaft for raising and lowering the upper turret to adjust the capacities of the telescopic cups.

21. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a stub shaft connected to the upper turret and extending into the upper end of said hollow shaft and slidable therein, a shaft below said stub shaft and engaging the same slidable in said hollow shaft and extending from the lower end of said hollow shaft for raising and lowering the upper turret to adjust the capacities of the telescopic cups, and manually operable means for raising and lowering said last-named shaft.

22. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a stub shaft connected to the upper turret and extending into the upper end of said hollow shaft and slidable therein, a shaft below said stub shaft and engaging the same slidable in said hollow shaft and extending from the lower end of said hollow shaft for raising and lowering the upper turret to adjust the capacities of the telescopic cups, and gear operated screw mechanism for raising and lowering said internal shaft.

23. A can filling machine having a measuring device comprising upper and lower turrets having a series of cooperating telescopic flanges forming cups, said device having a driven hollow shaft connected to the lower turret and having a stub shaft connected to the upper turret and extending into the upper end of said hollow shaft and slidable therein, a shaft below said stub shaft and engaging the same slidable in said hollow shaft and extending from the lower end of said hollow shaft for raising and lowering the upper turret to adjust the capacities of the telescopic cups, a dial, a rotatable finger for indicating the capacities of the measuring cups, and manually operable means for raising and lowering said last-named shaft to regulate the capacities of said cups, said means when operated in turn rotating said dial finger.

CHARLES H. AYARS. 

